2014 Odessa clashes

Clashes between Euromaidan and anti-Maidan demonstrators erupted in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa in January 2014, during the lead-up to the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, part of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine in Southern and Eastern Ukraine. Odessa, largely Russophone, witnessed continued unrest throughout 2014. The worst incident occurred on 2 May, when 46 pro-federalism (anti-Maidan) and two pro-Ukrainian unity activists were killed and over 200 people were injured during a confrontation in the city center and at the Trade Unions House.

2014 Odessa clashes
Part of Ukrainian crisis
Trade Unions building after the fire.
DateNovember 2013 - 2 May 2014
Location
Odessa, Ukraine
Goals Before the change of power:
  • declaration to counteraction against Neo-Nazi movement
  • protection of office buildings
  • economic and political integration with Russia, entry into the Customs Union

After the change of power:

  • protection of the status of the Russian language
  • support for pro-Russian, pro-Soviet and pro-Stalinist sentiments
  • federalization
  • preservation of historical and cultural heritage
  • solving the most important problems of domestic and foreign policy through referenda
  • re-election of the governor and regional council
MethodsVarious, including:
  • rallies, processions
  • creation of power formations
  • pressure on power
  • collection of signatures
Statusdecline in anti-Maidan movement as a result of mass bloodshed on 2 May
Parties to the civil conflict

Supporters of a unified Ukraine

Pro-Russian activists[3][4][5][6]

Lead figures
Aleksey Cherny[8]
Alexander Ostapenko[9]
Andrey Yusov[10]

Vladimir Nemirovsky (until 6 May 2014)
Ihor Palytsia (from 6 May 2014)

Mark Gordienko[11]
Sergey Dolzhenkov[12]
Anton Davidchenko (until 17 March 2014) ,
Grigory Kvasnyuk
Pavel Kovalenko[13][14]
Number
1200 euromaidanites and 600 football ultras from Kharkiv
300[15]
Casualties and losses
2 dead,
several dozen wounded
46 dead,
several dozen wounded

Unrest begins

Up to 2,000 Euromaidan (pro-Maidan) protesters marched on the regional state administration (RSA) building in Odessa on 26 January,[16][17] but were repelled by pro-government supporters and municipal barricades.[18][19] Odessa municipal administration fortified the RSA with concrete blocks to prevent further incursions on 28 January.[20] Confrontations between Euromaidan and Anti-Maidan protesters continued over the next month, and on 19 February, about 100 unidentified men wearing masks and helmets, and armed with baseball bats, assaulted a pro-Maidan demonstration.[21][22] Three journalists and two cameramen were injured in the clashes.[23] A number of Russian nationalist groups (Odesska Druzhyna, Anti-Maidan) were active throughout the period and actively supported by senior Russian politicians such as Sergey Glazyev.[24]

After the ousting of president Viktor Yanukovych by Euromaidan protesters in late February, heightened tensions between Euromaidan and anti-Maidan protesters began in Odessa Oblast. Police reported that 5,000 participated in a pro-Russian demonstration in the city of Odessa on 1 March.[25] Rolling demonstrations continued, and on 3 March 2014, 200–500 demonstrators with Russian flags attempted to seize the Odessa RSA building.[26][27][28] They demanded that a referendum on the establishment of an "Odessa Autonomous Republic" be held.[27]

Meanwhile, several competing pro-Maidan demonstrations were also held in the city.[29] On 30 March a 5,000-strong pro-Maidan protest was held in Odessa.[30]

On 30 March, Russian ultranationalist Anton Rayevsky was arrested and deported from the city for organizing pro-Russian subversive groups, allegedly for the Russian government. A member of the neo-Nazi Black Hundreds group, materials confiscated from Rayevsky called for the destruction of Ukrainians and Jews in the region, and for Russian military intervention.[31]

An 'Odessa People's Republic' was proclaimed by an internet group in Odessa Oblast on 16 April.[32] Members of the Odessa anti-Maidan protest group later swore that they made no such declaration, and the leaders of the group said they had only heard about it through the media.[33] The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine later confirmed that the situation in Odessa remained calm.[34] Local anti-Maidan and pro-Euromaidan leaders in Odessa Oblast voiced scepticism about the Geneva Statement on Ukraine on 20 April. The anti-Maidan leaders insisted that they aimed not at secession, but at the establishment of a wider federated state called 'Novorossiya' within Ukraine.[35]

A hand grenade was thrown from a passing car at a joint police-Maidan self-defence checkpoint outside Odessa on 25 April, injuring seven people, and causing heightened tensions in the region.[36][37]

2 May city centre clashes and Trade Unions House fire

2 May clashes
Date2 May 2014
Location
Odessa
Odessa Oblast, Ukraine
Caused by
  • Opposition and support for the Donbass insurgency
  • Confrontation between supporters and opponents of the post-Maidan Ukrainian government
Methods
Resulted in
  • Trade Unions House burnt
  • Pro-Russian protest camp burnt down by Ukrainian unity activists
Parties to the civil conflict
  • Pro-Russian activists and militants[42][43][4][44]
  • Odesskaya Druzhina[45]
  • People's Druzhina[45]
  • Local police (militsiya)

Claimed:

Number
  • 1,200 football fans & pro-Unity activists
  • 600 Kharkiv football fans[45]
300 Odesskaya Druzhina[45]
Casualties and losses
Deaths: 2[48][49] (gunfire)
Deaths: 46[50] (4 gunfire, 32 suffocation, 10 autodefenestration)
Total casualties: 48 dead, 247 injured (27 shot, 31 stabbed) and 99 hospitalised[45]
Arrests: 123[45]

On 2 May 2014, as part of the rising unrest in Ukraine in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, multiple clashes between pro-Maidan and anti-Maidan groups broke out in the streets of Odessa.[40][51] Two pro-Maidan and four anti-Maidan activists were killed by gunfire during the clashes in the streets.[49][52][53][54] These clashes culminated in a large skirmish outside the Trade Unions House, an Odessa landmark located on Kulikovo Field in the city centre.[38] That building then caught fire in unclear circumstances, resulting in the deaths of forty-two pro-Russian activists who had holed up in it.[45][55] The events were the bloodiest civil conflict in Odessa since 1918.[56]

A detailed minute-by-minute timeline of events has been compiled by "the 2 May Group", an organisation of 13 local journalists and experts investigating the tragedy on a volunteer basis.[57] The timeline's first version is published in 2014,[49][58] and an updated version in 2016.[52] According to Guardian, most of what is known today about the tragedy is thanks to the 2 May Group investigation based on analysis of amateur footage and interviews with witnesses.[57]

Events

A rally at 14:00 for national unity was held in Sobornaya Square by about 1,500 people, including many FC Chornomorets Odesa and FC Metalist Kharkiv fans, along with some right-wing Right Sector members, and many ordinary people.[40][39][59] Joint marches among the sports fans are a regular tradition before all football matches in the area.[56] As they marched down Derybasivska Street, fans of both teams sang the Ukrainian national anthem together, chanted patriotic slogans such as "Odessa, Kharkiv, Ukraine", and sang other songs against Russian President Vladimir Putin.[56][60] OSCE monitors reported that they saw around one-hundred pro-unity activists in camouflage with sticks and shields participating in the march.[61]

Attendees told journalists beforehand that they had found out through social media that "anti-Maidan supporters were calling for everyone to gather and crush the unification march."[59] One of the pages called on their supporters in Odessa to "take after Donetsk," a reference to pro-Russian attacks that took place against pro-Maidan demonstrators in Donetsk days prior.[56] A leaflet that said the pro-Russian groups would "defend Odessa from pogroms" was distributed across the city before the rally.[60]

Escalation into clashes

External video
Odessa, the shooter at the Deribasivska Street video from YouTube

This rally was later attacked by a pro-Russian mob of 300 from the group Odesskaya Druzhina armed with bats and firearms at Hretska Street.[39][51][62] Both sides fought running battles against each other, exchanging stones and petrol bombs, and built barricades throughout the city during the afternoon.[63] According to OHCHR both sides had various kinds of helmets, masks, shields, axes and wooden or metal sticks, and firearms.[64]

According to an OmTV there were mostly air pistols and the first actual firearms used was brought by an Antimaidan activist Vitaly Budko ("Botsman") who opened fire from an AK-74 rifle using 5.45 bullets. Witnesses pointed out that he was shooting from behind the police line, effectively being covered by the law enforcement operatives. The first victim was Igor Ivanov, who died from a 5.45 bullet.[56][65][66][67] Some shots were fired from the roof top of the Afina shopping centre to shoot down at the crowds.[39] Budko later left the scene in ambulance together with police commander Dmitry Fuchedzhy (Russian: Дмитрий Фучеджи). Afterwards the pro-Russian "Antimaidan" activists claimed that Budko was using blank rounds or, in another version, an airsoft replica. However, analysis of videos by the "2 May Group" has proven that Budko was indeed using a real AK-74 with live rounds.[68] Fuchedzhy shortly after fled to Russia and obtained Russian citizenship, while Russian law enforcement denied any legal help to Ukrainian investigation of his role in the tragedy.[69]

Videos from the killing of Ivanov, rapidly spreading in social networks, was – according to people interviewed by OmTV – the tipping point in the conflict and resulted in bringing in a large number of Molotov cocktails, further airguns and hunting rifles to the conflict. Four anti-Maidan activists died from firearms shortly after on Hretska Ploshcha: Evgeniy Losinsky, Alexandr Zhulkov, Nikolai Yavorskiy – from hunting bullets, and Gennadiy Petrov – from 5.6 bullets.[49][52][53][70] [65]

Trade Unions House fire

A view of the Trade Unions House, on Kulykove Pole, prior to the unrest

As soon as word spread about the attack by pro-Russian demonstrators, a call by pro-Maidan demonstrators to go to Kulikovo Field and destroy the anti-Maidan camp emerged on social networks.[59] As a result, the pro-Russian crowd was later overwhelmed by the pro-Maidan demonstrators, and their encampment outside the Trade Unions House building was torched.[39][43][71] This forced the pro-Russian activists to enter that building, and occupy it.[71] The building is five storeys tall, and is the headquarters of the Odessa regional federation of trade unions.[72] It is located on Kulikovo Field, in the city centre.[72]

Reports about the precise sequence of events that followed vary between different sources, including several confirmed fake reports being spread through social networks.[73] While defending the building, militants on the roof tossed rocks and petrol bombs at the protesters below.[39][43][56][74] A report by the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN) said that the pro-Maidan crowd began to throw petrol bombs into the building after having been fired upon by the pro-Russian group.[75] BBC News said that the situation was unclear, with multiple sources indicating that both sides had been throwing petrol bombs at each other. One eyewitness told the BBC that the fire started on the third floor when a petrol bomb was thrown at a closed window from inside the building, and the Kyiv Post reported that several flaming bottles held by Ukrainian unity activists outside were thrown into the front entrance, and through the windows on the second and fourth floors.[39][51][56] An official investigation conducted by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry stated that while no firearms were found inside the building, those on the roof were shooting at the crowd below, and accidentally set the building on fire whilst throwing petrol bombs from above.[76][77] One of the pro-Maidan protesters who was shot (non-fatally) by a sniper from the trade unions building was Andrey Krasilnikov, a Russian citizen and Euromaidan activist.[65] Russia Today disputed this report, saying that the fire was started intentionally by "pro-Kiev radicals", and that those who died were "anti-government activists."

Inside the house of Trade Unions after the fire took place.

Regardless of who started the fire, it is known that it started on the second and third floors of the building, and quickly spread.[72] Firefighters were slow to respond, arriving an hour after the fire began.[56] Thirteen units of fire and rescue apparatus were sent to the scene, but were prevented from operating because of the large number of people gathered around the building.[72] Fifty pro-Russian activists remained on the roof, barricading themselves in and refusing to leave, while others were seen attempting to jump out of the windows. Some of those who tried to escape the fire were set upon and beaten during their attempts to flee by some Ukrainian unity demonstrators, while other demonstrators saved several dozen people in rooms on the second and third floor.[56][60][78] Some outside the building chanted "burn Colorads, burn," referring to a derogatory term for pro-Russian activists who wear the Ribbon of Saint George.[60] Local pro-Maidan unity protesters said that no one in Odessa's pro-Maidan movement knew the people that were seen chanting such slogans outside the burning building.[79]

Casualties

The official list of people killed during the event is still kept secret by the Ukrainian authorities.[80] Unofficially, the names of all victims have been established by journalists and published by local media: Dumskaya[80] and Timer.[81] According to UN OHCHR report,[54] 42 people died in a fire that erupted in the House of Trade Unions: 32 from carbon monoxide poisoning, and 10 after leaping from windows to escape the flames.[82] These were 34 men, seven women and a 17-year-old boy, all of them - either anti-Maidan supporters or people who happened to be at the site of the incident.[54] Six people were killed earlier the same day from firearms at Hretska Square: four anti-Maidan and two Euromaidan supporters.[49][52][53][54] In total, 48 people died in one day as a result of the clashes. Hospital staff reported that 174 were injured, and 25 were in critical condition.[83] 172 people were reported arrested as a result of the conflict,[46] and 38 anti-Maidan activists were detained by police after they had been evacuated from the burning building; most of them were badly injured.[84]

On the day of the event there appeared rumors that of those who died in the fire, fifteen were Russian citizens, and five were from Transnistria.[85] The Interior Ministry debunked these rumors since the identity of most of the victims had not been determined on 2 May.[86] Later reports showed that none of the identified victims was from Russia or Transnistria.[87][88] Out of the 48 people killed, 46 were from Odessa or Odessa region, one from Mykolaiv Oblast and one from Vinnytsia.[81]

Aftermath

A memorial to those who died in the clashes at a barricade made of tyres in Donetsk

The city of Odessa announced that three days of mourning would be held in honour of those who lost their lives in the clashes. Ukrainian interim President Oleksandr Turchynov followed suit, declaring two days of national mourning for those who died in the clashes, also those who died during a government counter-offensive in Donetsk Oblast.

Both pro-Russian and pro-Maidan demonstrators gathered outside the burnt Trade Unions House on the day after the clashes.[89] Roughly 2,000 pro-Russian protesters gathered outside, chanting: "Odessa is a Russian city."[90] There was a heavy police presence, and some minor scuffles between protesters.[89] In another outbreak of unrest, the Interior Ministry's headquarters in Odessa was attacked by several hundred pro-Russian activists on 4 May.[91] Originally a protest, the events later turned violent when masked demonstrators with improvised weapons started breaking windows, and forcing gates open.[91] In an attempt to pacify the protesters, the officials inside the building released between 30 and 67 of those arrested in the aftermath of the clashes.[91] Elsewhere in the city, supporters of federalisation attacked a Ukrainian reporter for Channel 5 news.[92] A rally of several hundred pro-Maidan activists marched to the site of the fire, raised the Ukrainian flag from the central flagpole, and observed a moment of silence for the victims.[93]

In response to the conflict, Odessa governor Nemirovsky announced the formation of a 'territorial defence battalion' of the army and would be recruiting to quickly restore order in the region.[94]

7 May 2014 Nemirovsky accused Alexandr Dubovoy of organization of Odessa clashes. In July, the court ordered Nemirovsky to refute this false report.[95]

Investigation

Investigators are probing four theories: an order to extremist groups to destabilise the situation in Ukraine; unlawful activity by Odessa regional authorities and police aimed at discrediting the current central government; unchecked actions by football fans and pro-Russia groups; and a provocation by radical individuals.[96]

As of May 2017, the official investigation is still in progress and criticized by Ukrainian human-rights groups and international bodies for lack of progress and failure to investigate key evidence. At least one case has been taken to European Court of Human Rights by a mother whose son has died in the clashes.[97]

UN Human Rights office states in its 2016 report: "criminal prosecutions ... appear to have been initiated in a partial fashion. Only activists from the 'pro-federalism' camp have been prosecuted so far, while the majority of victims were supporters of 'pro-federalism' movement... The investigations into the violence have been affected by systemic institutional deficiencies and characterized by procedural irregularities, which appear to indicate an unwillingness to genuinely investigate and prosecute those responsible."[54]

Pro-Maidan activist Sergei Khodiak is officially accused of murder, but he is not under arrest.[57] He was released after two days in custody due to the pressure of other Euromaidan activists on the court. Although the pre-trial investigation was completed in August 2015, the trial has not yet started (as of May 2016).[98][54] None of Euromaidan activists was under arrest as of March 2016,[99] and May 2017.[100] At the same time, around dozen of anti-Maidan supporters have been held in custody for at least two years. Some of them launched a hunger strike.[98][99] An anti-Maidan activist Igor Astakhov died after two years in custody from a heart failure.[101] Three years after the events, five anti-Maidan supporters remain in custody.[100]

Those who set fire to the House of Trade Unions have not been identified.[54]

A Euromaidan activist Vsevolod Goncharevskii is accused in beating people who jumped out of the windows of the House of Trade Unions. He was detained in August 2014, but the court decided to release him one month later. In 2015 the court resumed investigation against him, but in October 2016 Goncharevskii was still free and participated in military operations against separatists.[102][103]

In September 2017, the Chornomorsk town court of Odessa Oblast concluded that all 19 people accused of participation in the clashes on Hrteska ploshcha, are not guilty. The court criticized the prosecution for being biased against the anti-Maidan activists and for low quality of investigation.[104][105] Five anti-Maidan activists who had remained in custody for 3.5 years, were ordered to be released. However, two of them were immediately arrested again by SBU on new charges related to a peaceful anti-Maidan motor rally in March 2014.[104]

Pressure on the Courts

The court is under severe pressure, e.g. on 27 November 2015, the Malynovskyi District Court of Odessa granted release on bail to five anti-Maidan detainees. In response, around 50 Right Sector and other Euromaidan activists blocked the detention facility searching all vehicles for the detainees to be released, they pressured the prosecution to appeal, blocked the judge of the Court of Appeals of Odesa Region in his office, urging him to grant the appeal, and forced the judges of the Malynovskyi District Court to resign. In a few days, the decision to release the detainees was cancelled, in violation of procedural law.[106][107][108] On 10 March 2016, 'anti-Maidan' accused have been attacked by Euromaidan activists near the court building leading to hospitalization one of them.[98][99] According to OHCHR, up to 50 aggressive Euromaidan activists can be observed in the courtroom with police being unable to protect those involved in the proceedings.[98] Two district courts of Odessa refused to consider the case because judges were intimidated.[98]

UN OHCHR reported in 2018 about the lack of progress in investigations into harassment of and pressure on judges dealing with the mass disorder cases by Euromaidan activists, despite the identification of some alleged perpetrators by victims or witnesses.[109]

Chloroform

Then-presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko told journalists about a closed session of parliament where evidence was presented that "toxic substances" had been placed in the Trade Unions House to facilitate an increased death toll,[110] and that the events were organised in advance by Russian and local officials.[111]

Amid the ingoing investigation, Ukraine's deputy Interior Minister and Chief Investigator Vitaliy Sakal told journalists on 19 May that traces of chloroform had been found in the building, and that thirty-two deaths in the building were attributed to the inhalation of an as yet unidentified substance. Sakal added that the mixture containing chloroform had been in the Trade Unions building for several days. Sakal said that an investigation to determine the substance's origin was ongoing, and that Ukrainian investigators have urged the Israeli Embassy to provide skilled professionals to assist Ukrainian specialists in this regard.[96]

Russian nationals

The day after the fire, the Interior Ministry released a statement saying that 172 people had been arrested. They said that the meticulous preparation of the unrest in the town was evident from the fact that the majority of the detainees who had been identified at the time were Russian nationals and residents of Transnistria. Police confiscated firearms and a significant amount of incendiary mixture during the arrests.[46] That same day Vitaly Yarema, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, said there were foreigners among both the participants of mass riots and the victims in Odessa.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the clashes that took place involved the participation of 'illegal military groups' and mercenaries coordinated in Transnistria by subversive groups from Russia, and financed by former members of the Yanukovych government.[46][47] Named were former Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov and former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Klymenko. "Subversion in the Ukrainian city of Odessa that was financed by former top officials targeted at disrupting stability in the south of Ukraine," said Kateryna Kosareva, SBU press spokeswoman. "Its organizers were planning that it would be the beginning of full scale instability in the rest of the southern regions of our country."[112]

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS) announced that among the conflict organizers it had detained, at least three were citizens of the Russian Federation. Among them were named Evgeny Mefedov, from Yoshkar-Ola; Andrei Krasilnikov, from Nizhny Novgorod; and Alexander Zolotashko.[47] The SBU then identified other Russian citizens arrested: Boris Demylov; Sergei Pavlov; Alexander Vdovin; Sergei Sidorenko; and Dmitri Bormotov, from Evenk Autonomous Okrug.[113]

As of May 2016, two Russian nationals, Mefedov and Sakauov, have remained in custody for 2 years despite the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence against them.[98][114] According to the United Nations OHCHR, the prosecution failed to ensure the presence of witnesses and, after a year of hearings, requested to recuse the panel of judges. Both citizens of the Russian Federation launched a hunger strike.[98][114] The panel of judges notified the General Prosecutor of Ukraine several times about the low quality of the prosecution and reprimanded the prosecution for delaying the proceedings.[98]

In September 2017, the Chornomorsk town court declared that both Russian citizens, Mefedov and Sakauov (as well as 17 other accused), are not guilty and ordered their immediate release. The court concluded that the presented evidence was untenable, and the prosecution was biased against the anti-Maidan activists. After the judgement was pronounced, SBU immediately re-arrested Mefedov (along with a Ukrainian citizen Dolzhenkov) in the courtroom, on charges of "trespass against the territorial integrity of Ukraine".[104][105][115]

Involvement

Governor of Odessa Oblast Volodymyr Nemyrovsky stated on 2 May 2014 that the conflict could have been avoided had police fulfilled their duties, and accused police of inciting the confrontation and taking bribes to switch allegiance to the separatists' side. Several police were seen donning the red armbands worn by pro-Russian rioters.[116]

The leadership of the local police was then fired and may face criminal charges. Arsen Avakov, the interior minister, blamed local politicians for the events. People suspected of complicity include city council members, elections workers, police, relatives of former police officers, and active anti-Maidan campaigners. Twelve people were arrested, but their names were not disclosed.[96] "The police in Odessa acted outrageously, possibly in a criminal fashion," Interior Minister Avakov stated. "The 'honor of the uniform' will offer no cover." He then announced the formation of a new civilian-based special police force named "Kiev-1" to help police the city.[117][118]

Reactions

 Ukraine – "We believe that a full and impartial investigation, which is being conducted by law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, will enable us to find not only the perpetrators of the tragedy, but also their puppeteers and sponsors both in Ukraine and in Russia," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.[47] "That which we saw in Odessa was a [Russian] Federal Security Service provocation to deflect attention from the anti-terrorist operation [in eastern Ukraine]" said acting presidential chief of staff Serhiy Pashynsky. "They [the FSB] want to show that situation [in the country] is not stable, but what happened in Odessa showed something else, that the people's patience has run out." Pashynsky also stated that the FSB armed pro-Russian militants in Odessa.[119] Acting president Turchynov said Russian special forces were working with success to destabilise Ukraine, helped by "guest stars from Transnistria."[120]

 Russian Federation – Russia's Foreign Ministry said that the fire was "yet another manifestation of the criminal irresponsibility of the Kiev authorities who indulge insolent radical nationalists … which are engaging in a campaign of physical terror", against those wanting 'greater autonomy' living in Russian-speaking regions.[121] Russian Duma member Leonid Slutsky compared this accident to a nazi-crime, like Khatyn massacre.[122]

Other countries

 Bulgaria – Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin condemned the Odessa clashes "in the strongest possible terms" and expressed condolences to the victims' families. He urged the Ukrainian government to "abide by its obligations to disarm paramilitaries...limit the influence of far-right groups" and all parties to refrain from further provocations.[123]

 Belarus – President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin "The developments in Odessa are simply unimaginable. I would like to have a frank discussion, behind the scenes, so to speak, about the situation in Ukraine and to coordinate our actions, because clearly, this crisis is not going to end tomorrow, and it has a direct impact on you and on us."[124]

 Armenia – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said "Nevertheless, we are deeply concerned by the growth of violence in Ukraine, including the events in Odessa, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and other regions. We cannot but worry about the current situation also because there are more than half a million Armenians living in Ukraine."[125]

 United States – US State Department: "The United States today mourns with all Ukrainians the heartbreaking loss of life in Odessa. Today the international community must stand together in support of the Ukrainian people as they cope with this tragedy".[126]

 Canada – Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, said the latest incidents were "very deeply concerning" and accused President Vladimir Putin of starting a "slow-motion invasion" of Ukraine.[127]

Further events

About sixty people gathered on Kulikovo Field to commemorate the 2 May fire on 13 July.[128] The demonstration was peaceful. Another demonstration on the field on the same day drew about 120 people. They chanted "Donbass, we are with you", in reference to the ongoing War in Donbass.[128] Odessa city mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov told OSCE monitors on 23 July that the "underlying tensions" of the 2 May clashes remained in the city, and that he feared for the city's security.[129]

Odessa was struck by six bomb blasts in December 2014, one of which killed one person (the injuries sustained by the victim indicated that he had dealt with explosives).[130][131][132] Internal Affairs Ministry advisor Zorian Shkiryak said on 25 December that Odessa and Kharkiv had become "cities which are being used to escalate tensions" in Ukraine. Shkiryak said that he suspected that these cities were singled out because of their "geographic position".[131]

References

  1. From the separatists' bullets, the tenor of the "Right Sector" died - Telegraph, 3 May 2014
  2. ZMI have been named after I died in Odessa - Ukrainian truth, 4 May 2014
  3. "Ukraine Presses Pro-Russia Militants After Fighting Spreads to Odessa". The New York Times. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014. many of the dead were pro-Russia militants who had retreated into a trade union building
  4. "Police say pro-Russians accidentally set fatal Odessa fire with Molotov cocktails". Kyiv Post. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014. An eyewitness account from Odesa posted online states that Russian-backed militants shot at and killed at least four soccer fans
  5. "Ukrainian Unrest Spreads; Dozens Dead in Odessa". The Blaze. Associated Press. 1 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014. local media reported that pro-Russian militants were believed to have been in the building at the time
  6. "Ukraine crisis: dozens killed in Odessa fire as violence spreads to country south". The Guardian. 2 May 2014. Dozens have died in a building fire in Ukraine after a clash between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian protesters in the Black Sea port of Odessa.
  7. A two-day mourning was announced in Ukraine - Komsomolskaya Pravda in Ukraine, 2 May 2014
  8. The leader of the Odessa Euromaidan was arrested for five days - Correspondent.net, 26 November 2013,
  9. Odessa leader Euromaidan became vice-governor - Today, 18 March 2014
  10. "Yusov collects "Euromaidanites" to march on Kulikovo Field on May 2 (video fact)". Timer. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  11. Mark Gordienko: a massage therapist who discovered a revolutionary in himself
  12. The former opera Captain Cocoa was organizing the massacre in Odessa
  13. On the situation in the capital of the Odessa People’s Republic - http://vg-news.ru, 11 April 2015,
  14. The Odessa People's Republic recognized the LPR and the DPR Archived 26 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine - http://rusdozor.ru, 13 April 2015,
  15. Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 15 June 2014
  16. "Pro-EU crowd marching towards regional govt HQ in Odessa – News – World – The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video". The Voice of Russia. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  17. "До Одеської ОДА рухається колона до 2 тисяч людей | Українська правда". Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  18. "Новини NEWSru.ua :: Одеські ультрас були змушені відступити перед "навалою" вірнопідданих ПР під ОДА". Newsru.ua. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  19. "Одесский горсовет приготовился к штурму (ВИДЕО) – Одесса.comments.ua". Odessa.comments.ua. 26 January 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  20. "Входы в Одесскую облгосадминистрацию перекрывают бетонными блоками (фото) | Новости Одессы". Dumskaya.net. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  21. "Побоище у одесской ОГА: пострадали журналисты (видеотрансляция прекращена)". Dumskaya.net. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  22. В Одессе "титушки" под присмотром милиции избили участников мирной акции
  23. "Disturbances escalate in western Ukraine". Euronews. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  24. "Odesa Smoking Gun Leads Directly to Moscow :: khpg.org". khpg.org. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  25. Conal Urquhart (3 January 2014). "UN security council in emergency meeting after Russian parliament approves use of military against Ukraine- live updates". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  26. "Митингующие под флагами России штурмуют Одесскую ОГА". Gazeta.ua. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  27. "В Одессе накалились страсти: противники киевской власти осадили ОГА. К ним вышел Скорик (фоторепортаж) (In Odessa inflame passions: opponents of the Kiev authorities besieged RSA)". Info-Center.od.ua (in Russian). 3 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  28. "Активисты в Одессе пошли штурмом на здание облсовета (Activists in Odessa stormed the building of the Regional Council)" (in Russian). LifeNews.ru. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  29. Turmoil in eastern Ukraine reaches Odessa, Al Jazeera America (24 April 2014)
  30. В социальных сетях кипят споры по поводу численности митингов в Одессе (in Russian). Timer. 31 March 2014.
  31. "З України видворено російського неонациста-"чорносотенця", який готував диверсію в Одесі". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  32. "Одеські сепаратисти в інтернеті оголосили "Одеську республіку" (Odessa separatists declared the Internet "Odessa republic")". Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  33. "Одеський Антимайдан божиться, що ніякої республіки не оголошував (Odessa antimaidan swears that no republic is declared)". Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  34. "Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine" (Press release). Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  35. "Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  36. Shevchenko, Daryna (30 April 2014). "Pro-Maidan activists recover after attack near Odessa". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  37. "7 injured in checkpoint explosion in southern Ukraine". Xinhua News Agency. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  38. "Dozens die in Odessa, rebels down Ukraine helicopters". Reuters. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  39. "How did Odessa's fire happen?". BBC News. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  40. "Pro- and Anti-Maidan activists clash in Odessa". Global Post. Agence France-Presse. 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  41. "Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine. 15 June 2014" (PDF). UN OHCHR. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  42. "Ukraine Presses Pro-Russia Militants After Fighting Spreads to Odessa". The New York Times. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014. many of the dead were pro-Russia militants who had retreated into a trade union building
  43. Amos, Howard (2 May 2014). "Dozens reported dead after Odessa building fire". The Guardian. Pro-Russia fighters mounted a last-ditch defence of the burning building, throwing masonry and petrol bombs from the roof on to the crowd below.
  44. "Ukrainian Unrest Spreads; Dozens Dead in Odessa". The Blaze. Associated Press. 1 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014. local media reported that pro-Russian militants were believed to have been in the building at the time
  45. "Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine" (PDF) (Press release). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  46. "MIA: Most of the detainees in Odessa – Russian citizens and residents of Transnistria". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  47. "СБУ и МИД заявили о причастности россиян к провокациям и беспорядкам в Одессе". ZN. 3 May 2014.
  48. "Игорь Иванов и Андрей Бирюков – 2 мая они спасли Одессу ценой своей жизни". UAinfo. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  49. "Chronology of events May 2, 2014 in Odessa (in English). Part 1". Группа 2 мая. (the 2 May Group). Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  50. "Майская бойня: обновлённый список погибших, среди них несовершеннолетний". Таймер (Timer). 14 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  51. "Dozens killed in Odessa fire amid clashes". BBC News. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  52. "Хронология событий 2 мая 2014 года в Одессе (на русском языке, уточненная). Часть 1". May 2 Group. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  53. "Трагедия 2 мая в Одессе. Реконструкция. Часть 2 — столкновение". Таймер. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  54. "Accountability for killings in Ukraine from January 2014 to May 2016" (PDF). UN OHCHR. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  55. "Ukrainian Investigator Sees Chloroform as Cause of Odessa Deaths". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  56. Dibrov, Sergiy (4 May 2014). "What really happened in Odessa: A step-by-step reconstruction of a tragedy that killed 46 people". Kyiv Post.
  57. "There was heroism and cruelty on both sides': the truth behind one of Ukraine's deadliest days". The Guardian. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  58. "The chronology of events that occurred on 2nd of May, 2014 in Odessa (Part 2)". Группа 2 мая (the 2 May Group). Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  59. Rykovtseva, Elena (3 May 2014). "Odesa Dispatch: 'Some Murders Are Announced'". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  60. "Ukraine's Reins Weaken as Chaos Spreads". The New York Times. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  61. "Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine – based on information received up until 02 May 2014" (Press release). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  62. "Dozens killed in building fire in Odessa, ministry says". The Guardian. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  63. "Ukraine suffers deadliest day in months; 34 killed in Odessa". The Washington Post. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  64. Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/HRMMUReport15June2014.pdf
  65. "Независимое расследование. Одесса 2 мая без мифов". OmTV. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  66. "Вчера в Одессе сепаратисты расстреливали проукраинских митингующих. Фотофакт (Yesterday in Odessa separatists shot pro-Maidan protesters)". News of Donbass (in Russian). 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  67. "On the Internet there Odessa photo armed separatists". Liga News. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  68. "Одесская трагедия: "антимайдановец" Боцман стрелял из огнестрельного оружия | Новости Одессы". dumskaya.net. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  69. "Ключевой фигурант дела о трагедии в Одессе 2 мая 2014 года Фучеджи получил гражданство России". gordonua.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  70. "Черный день Одессы: следователи "оправдали" массовое убийство в Доме профсоюзов". Московский Комсомолец. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  71. "В Одессе проукраинские активисты ликвидировали лагерь сепаратистов (In Odessa, the pro-Maidan activists eliminated the separatists)" (in Russian). Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  72. "В Доме профсоюзов в Одессе найдено 36 трупов – ГСЧС (In the House of Trade Unions in Odessa found 36 corpses – GSCHS)". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  73. Catherine A. Fitzpatrick (4 May 2014). "Russia This Week: News and Social Media Coverage of Tragic Deaths in Odessa (28 April-4 May)". The Interpreter Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  74. Will, From (2 May 2014). "Dozens killed by smoke as Ukraine moves closer to civil war | World". Daily Express. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  75. "Как горел Дом профсоюзов в Одессе : Новости УНИАН". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  76. 14 May 2014 06:59 (9 August 2013). "В милиции называют домыслами информацию о якобы погибших в Одессе россиян и приднестровцев. Информационное агентство Украинские Национальные Новости (УНН). Все онлайн новости дня в Украине за сегодня – самые свежие, последние". Unn.com.ua. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  77. "Police say pro-Russians accidentally set fatal Odessa fire with Molotov cocktails (LIVE UPDATES, VIDEO)". Kyiv Post. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  78. "Death by fire in Odessa as country suffers bloodiest day since the revolution". The Daily Telegraph. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  79. "Ukraine's murky inferno". The Economist. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  80. "Одесская трагедия: стали известны имена 47 из 48 погибших во время беспорядков 2 мая | Новости Одессы". dumskaya.net. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  81. "Майская бойня: обновлённый список погибших, среди них несовершеннолетний". timer-odessa.net (in Russian). Таймер (Timer). Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  82. "Dozens killed in Odessa fire as violence spreads to country's south". The Daily Telegraph. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  83. "У лікарнях Одеси – більше 170 постраждалих (Hospitals in Odessa – more than 170 injured)". The Insider (in Ukrainian). 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  84. "Бойня на Куликовом поле: милиция задержала 38 "антимайдановцев"". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  85. "Наразі пожежа вже ліквідована, проте її причини досі невідомі". TSN.ua. 2 May 2014.
  86. "В міліції називають домислами інформацію про нібито загиблих в Одесі росіян і придністровців". Українські національні новини. 3 May 2014.
  87. Опознаны восемь погибших в Доме профсоюзов в Одессе – все одесситы, Interfax-Ukraine, 3 May 2014| language=Russian
  88. "Odessa: Who is to blame for 46 Odessa deaths?". Kyiv Post. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  89. "Russia sympathisers vent anger at Ukraine Odessa deaths". BBC News. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  90. "Ukraine Anti-Terror Chief: This Is War". Voice of America News. 3 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  91. "Odessa detainees freed as police HQ attacked". BBC News. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  92. "Прихильники федералізації в Одесі напали на журналістів | Українська правда". Ukrayinska Pravda. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  93. "В Одессе активисты на Куликовом поле установили флаг Украины : Новости УНИАН". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  94. "Одеса створює власний батальйон для самозахисту | Українська правда". Ukrayinska Pravda. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  95. "1. MP Dubovoy won a court case from ex-governor Nemirovskiy". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  96. "Interior Ministry: Chloroform discovered in Odessa Trade Unions building where 32 died". Kyiv Post. 19 May 2014.
  97. "Ukraine faces human rights court hammering over investigation of Odesa 2 May Tragedy – Human Rights in Ukraine". khpg.org. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  98. "Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 February to 15 May 2016" (PDF). UN OHCHR. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  99. "Возле суда в Одессе во время слушания дела о трагедии 2 мая избили двоих обвиняемых". TASS. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  100. "Как движется расследование событий 2 мая 2014 года в Одессе". BBC Russian Service. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  101. "В СИЗО Одессы умер задержанный по делу 2 мая пророссийский активист". Lenta.Ru. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  102. "Подозреваемый в добивании людей возле Дома профсоюзов в Одессе служит в зоне АТО". CTPAHA.UA. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  103. "Возобновлено расследование преступлений Всеволода Гончаревского, который добивал людей 2 мая". timer-odessa.net (in Russian). Таймер (Timer). 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  104. "UN OHCHR Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 August to 15 November 2017" (PDF). The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 12 December 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  105. "Суд оправдал обвиняемых по делу о событиях в Одессе в мае 2014-го". BBC Русская служба. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  106. "Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 November 2015 to 15 February 2016" (PDF). UN OHCHR. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  107. Heyden, Ulrich (18 December 2015). "Ukraine: When the Right Sector Runs the Courtroom". Counterpunch. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  108. "Судей по делу о трагедии в Одессе вынудили уволиться". Корреспондент.net. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  109. "Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 November 2017 to 15 February 2018" (PDF). The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 19 March 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  110. "Poroshenko says toxic chemicals were used in Odesa trade union fire; Deshchytsia, Lavrov to have working dinner (LIVE UPDATES)". KyivPost. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  111. ",". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  112. "SBU: Yanukovych allies Arbuzov and Klymenko financed riots in Odessa". Kyiv Post. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  113. "СБУ уточнила список росіян, причетних до бойні в Одесі | Українська правда". Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  114. "Заключенные или пленные: Кого еще могут обменять Россия и Украина: главные имена". Meduza (in Russian). 27 June 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  115. "Суд оправдал 19 обвиняемых по "делу 2 мая" в Одессе. Двоих тут же задержали снова — теперь за сепаратизм". Meduza (in Russian). 18 September 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  116. "Odessa police officers appear involved in bloody riots". TCH (in Ukrainian). 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  117. "Ukraine moves forces to Odessa, helicopter downed in east | Top News". Reuters. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  118. Nolan Feeney (4 May 2014). "Ukraine: Violence in Odessa Continues After Friday Fire". Time. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  119. "Presidential Administration: Russia's Federal Security Service armed Odesa separatists". Kyiv Post. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  120. Miliukov, Oleksander. "Pro-Russians storm Odessa police station, PM slams local police". Reuters. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  121. "Odessa Building Fire Kills Dozens". Huffington Post. Associated Press. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  122. "Слуцкий: события в Одессе напоминают преступления нацистов в войну". Russian Agency of International Information "RIA Novosti". Российское информационное агентство. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  123. "Kristian Vigenin: We insist on a thorough investigation of the events in Odessa" (in Bulgarian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  124. "President of Russia: Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko". Presidential Executive Office, Russian Federation. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  125. Siranush Ghazanchyan (8 May 2014). "Serzh Sargsyan: Crisis in Ukraine should be solved exceptionally through peaceful means". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  126. "Tragic Loss of Life in Odesa" (Press release). United States Department of State. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  127. Canadian Press (5 May 2014). "Vladimir Putin mounting a 'slow-motion invasion' of Ukraine, Stephen Harper tells NATO – National Post". National Post. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  128. "Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine based on information received until 18:00 hrs, 14 July" (Press release). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  129. "Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine based on information received until 18:00 hrs, 23 July" (Press release). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  130. News Analysis: Bombing Campaign Opens New Front In Battle For Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (9 January 2015)
  131. Two dead after Ukraine rocked by series of blasts, Mashable (28 December 2014)
    Interior minister's advisor says Kharkiv, Odesa explosions aim at escalating tensions in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (25 December 2014)
  132. Bomb Explosion in Odessa Could Have Targeted Ukraine Army Charity Point, The Moscow Times (10 December 2014)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.